Update: This publication was updated on May 14, 2020. To read the original version, click here.

On April 3, 2020, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA"), to utilize the Defense Production Act ("DPA") to restrict the export of scarce domestic materials being used to respond to the spread of COVID-19, including certain personal protective equipment ("PPE").

Effective Tuesday, April 7, 2020, FEMA implemented this order through a Temporary Final Rule (the "TFR") that restricts U.S. exports of five specific categories of PPE products that were previously designated by the Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") as "scarce or threatened materials." Both U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") and FEMA have since issued additional guidance on the TFR that provides further detail on the scope of the restrictions, as well as key exclusions for certain U.S. exporters.

The TFR differs from traditional U.S. export control regulations, such as those administered by the U.S. Departments of Commerce and State, in that there is no licensing system in place and FEMA's determination is not based on the proposed end-use or end-user of the product – rather, FEMA will assess all U.S. exports of designated PPE materials and reallocate those products domestically as required. Because FEMA is not an agency that traditionally administers U.S. export control regulations, it is critical for manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors of PPE products and related medical materials to be aware of the specific articles impacted by the TFR, the scope of the restrictions, the timeline for implementation, consequences for non-compliance, and the potential for expanded product coverage.

PPE Export Restrictions Overview

The TFR providing for PPE export restrictions is effective as of April 7, 2020, for a period of 120 days. The TFR designates five of 15 categories of materials previously identified as "scarce or threatened materials" by HHS. In particular, the subject restricted PPE "covered materials" are the following:

N-95 filtering facepiece respirators, including devices that are disposable half-face-piece non-powered air-purifying particulate respirators, intended for use to cover the nose and mouth of the wearer to help reduce wearer exposure to pathogenic biological airborne particulates;

PPE surgical masks, including masks that cover the user's nose and mouth and provide a physical barrier to fluids and particulate materials; and

PPE gloves or surgical gloves, including those defined at 21 CFR 880.6250 (exam gloves) and 878.4460 (surgical gloves) and such gloves intended for the same purposes.

Before any shipments of the above-listed PPE materials can be exported from the U.S., CBP will temporarily detain the shipment so that FEMA can determine whether to (i) prohibit the export and return the shipment for domestic use; (ii) utilize the Defense Production Act to issue a "rated order" for the materials (a priority contract or order placed in support of a national defense program under the DPA), or (iii) allow the export of part or all of the shipment.

In making its determination, FEMA may consider the following factors: (1) the need to ensure that scarce or threatened items are appropriately allocated for domestic use; (2) minimization of disruption to the supply chain, both domestically and abroad; (3) the circumstances surrounding the distribution of the materials and potential hoarding or price-gouging concerns; (4) the quantity and quality of the materials; (5) humanitarian considerations; and (6) international relations and diplomatic considerations.

Scope and Exemptions

On April 9, 2020, CBP issued an updated internal guidance memorandum (the "CBP Internal Guidance") to its field operators to clarify key definitions and general exceptions to the PPE export restrictions provided for in the TFR. CBP highlighted that the focus of the TFR is on "commercial quantities" of PPE exports, currently defined as shipments valued at $2,500 or more and containing more than 10,000 units.

The CBP Internal Guidance then lists the following export circumstances that are excluded from the FEMA restrictions:

Exports to Canada or Mexico;

Exports to U.S. government entities such as U.S. military bases overseas;

Exports by U.S. Government agencies;

Exports by U.S. charities;

Exports by critical infrastructure industries for the protection of their workers;

Exports by the 3M Company;

Express or Mail Parcels that do not meet the "commercial quantity" definition above;

In-transit shipments.

On April 21, 2020, FEMA published additional guidance in the Federal Register on the full scope of the initial list of ten exemptions, which are described as follows:

Shipments to U.S. Commonwealths and Territories, including Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (including minor outlying islands).

Exports of "covered materials" by non-profit or non-governmental organizations that are solely for donation to foreign charities or governments for free distribution (not sale) at their destination.

Intracompany transfers of "covered materials" by U.S. companies from domestic facilities to company-owned or affiliated foreign facilities.

Shipments of "covered materials" that are exported solely for assembly in medical kits and diagnostic testing kits destined for U.S. sale and delivery.

Sealed, sterile medical kits and diagnostic testing kits when only a portion of the kit is made up of one or more "covered materials" that cannot be easily removed without damaging the kits.

Declared diplomatic shipments from foreign embassies and consulates to their home countries.

Shipments to overseas U.S. military addresses, foreign service posts (e.g. diplomatic post offices), and embassies.

In-transit merchandise: Shipments in transit through the U.S. with a foreign shipper and consignee, including shipments temporarily entered into a warehouse or temporarily admitted to a foreign trade zone.

Shipments for which the final destination is Canada or Mexico.

Shipments by or on behalf of the U.S. federal government, including its military.

Certain exclusions will require the submission of a letter of attestation certifying to FEMA the purpose of the shipment of covered materials that will also be placed on file with CBP.

Practical Advice and Next Steps

All U.S. manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors of PPE materials or other products designated by HHS as "scarce or threatened" (see relevant HHS guidance here) that are considering exporting their products for sale need to have a comprehensive understanding of the FEMA TFR and applicable export restrictions. It may be the case that additional FEMA guidance will be issued regarding products identified by HHS as "scarce or threatened" in connection with the fight against the spread of COVID-19, and those additional items could be added to the list of restricted products for exports, including portable ventilators and certain drug treatment products that contain chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine HCl. Additional export, exporter or product-based exclusions may be issued in the finalized published FEMA/CBP guidance as well.

In the meantime, U.S. exporters of PPE products can expect delays at CBP ports around the country as FEMA and CBP develop and implement the TFR and related policy guidance. If you have any questions about the TFR, the impact of the TFR on exports of PPE products, or whether a particular product or proposed export is covered by a CBP exclusion, please contact Alan Enslen, Julius Bodie, or a member of Baker Donelson's Global Business Team.

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